Congratulations to the Vikings, Coach O’Connell, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, and all the staff and coaches. I am very pleased with the picks of quarterback J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner. I was a little nervous of the draft picks capital that was given, but it was worth it. I understand the plan with the cap space opening next year.
— Gill Sorg in New Mexico
**I love the first-round moves to get J.J. and Turner.
But on the trade up for Turner, we gave up a third (2025), fourth (2025), and fifth (2024) to move up six spots, while Detroit gave up only a third (2024) — and got a seventh (2025) back! — to move up five spots.
Why did we pay such a premium while Detroit got much more favorable terms?
— Jeff Sabini in Costa Mesa, California**
The trade for McCarthy involved receiving the 10th pick used on him and the 203rd for Reichard coming to Minnesota in exchange for sending the 11th, 129th and 157th picks to the Jets.
The vault from 23 to 17 cost Minnesota the 23rd and 167th picks this year, as well as a third- and fourth-round pick in 2025.
That shrinks the number of selections for Minnesota next year, but that can be increased a few ways, or offset by signing veterans in free agency or landing undrafted free agents. If the number doesn’t change, then Minnesota might not have as much flexibility to navigate the board within the draft.
As for Jeff’s question about the difference in costs, those can be determined by a few factors.
Although the number of spots is nearly similar (six to five), moving from the 20s to the teens is almost always going to be more expensive than going from the late- to mid-20s.
The Vikings were likely in competition with a few other teams in order to have access to the third defensive player selected. Many viewed Turner as worthy of a Top-10 selection, but the offensive surge to open the draft made some really good defensive players land below where they would in most years.
It’s possible that the Lions were the only one willing to two-step with the Cowboys, but Detroit was able to efficiently add a cornerback in Terrion Arnold who also was highly touted.
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